JB partners with Thyolo District Agricultural Office

As part of the JB work plan to to improve rural livelihoods and food security in the villages around Satemwa, the JB have agreed a pilot project alongside the local District Agricultural Office.

Under the agreement, the DAO officers will be conducting workshops in each village to find out what their priorities are and to put together village-specific proposals that the JB could assist with using premium money and the assistance of the DAO experts.

Initial meetings have identified a project in Chizinja and Maonga village areas to pipe water from the mountain for drinking and irrigation.  The villagers and village headwoman (Chizinja) have volunteered to dig the trenches, fetch river sand and provide other labour if the premium fund assists with cement, transport and water pipes.

Other projects so far include training in new compost-making techniques in three villages.

 

Village Headman addresses Mulenga village

DAO officer discusses ideas for projects with Mulenga village

 

Fairtrade Auditor visits Satemwa

Satemwa Tea Estate, Satemwa Workers Joint Body and Msuwadzi Smallholder Tea Growers Association have all been audited by the Fairtrade Association during the first week of June.

FLO-CERT, the auditing division of Fairtrade, visited all the fields and divisions of the smallholder farmers and the estate. They also reviewed all of the paperwork and interviewed workers.

In the final meeting FLO-CERT auditor Kennedy Chakanyuka congratulated the JB on all their projects. He said they showed genuine development and the positive impact that Fairtrade premium, through the JB, has made to the area. He highlighted the 6 new local bridges, clean water and the adult education classes as ‘very encouraging. Quite moving, really'.

But he reminded everybody that things must still improve, pointing out problems with the Smallholders record keeping and business planning, overtime issues in the security division, and that the newly elected JB members need to understand more about how it works.

Msuwadzi Chairman, Wilfred Custom, observed “it was the first time most of our members have met these people from Fairtrade. We didn’t believe we would get this far. Many of the growers were afraid and did not speak out in our meeting. They always say they don’t know anything about this and that, when they do. Most of us, you see, we are illiterate. We need help with our business planning. We face so many problems”

A VSO volunteer, Michael Shaw, helping Msuwadzi comments “This is just the first step. They will need training and support to keep up with Fairtrade Standards, otherwise they are made ‘non-compliant’ and risk suspension. The problem is that these global standards are tougher year-on-year, including requirements for complicated business strategies and planning documents. It will take years to reach the ‘year 1’ standards for most Malawian members, especially those who are illiterate, so we are trying to talk to FLO about making these more appropriate. Fairtrade is very new to Malawi and people here are at different development stages to those in South America, for example. This is why the most disadvantaged farmers in Malawi are failing to benefit from Fairtrade. They produce good crops, but they are illiterate.”

Solar brings music, light and money to Satemwa workers and communities

Satemwa JB have entered into a partnership with Kadzuwa, based in Mzuzu, Malawi, to supply 2000 micro solar panels, batteries and energy saving bulbs to help provide light and electricity to the workers and villages.  Kadzuwa are supported and established by SolarAid, a UK based charity.

So far Kadzuwa, through their village assembly groups in the North, have supplied 550 panels.  They are sending 200 more each month.

The JB buy the kits (MK5000 each) using workers fairtrade premium funds and then sell these at a subsidised price of MK1000 ($7) to the workers.

Next month, SolarAid are visiting to discuss setting up solar panel assembly groups in the local villages around Satemwa so local people can benefit from making small solar businesses in assembly, sales, spares bulbs and repairs.

The Solars are very popular.  With one panel, workers can charge their mobile phones, light their houses every night and listen to their radios, for free.

using solar power to listen to the radio

Takondwa Banda, a part-time working mother from Chawani division, commented “I don’t pay for paraffin or batteries any more.  It was MK1000 a month.  I have more money. You see?”

Other workers are less sure.  Smart Stimme from Factory division says “some are still waiting for their Solar.  We are crying whether we can get them in time.  We don’t know if they are coming?”

JB Chairman, Rabson Kalowa, responds “we are getting good price because they are being made by Malawians.  But it means they take a longer time to come.  These members [JB] and the General Assembly must explain to the workers that they should stop complaining.  It will come.  But we are many. They cannot understand.”

1300 workers are still due delivery.  The JB estimate 3 more months to go.     

     

Robert Muthete, JB member, demonstrating the low energy bulbs. 

Classes full at four Adult Literacy Schools

Following the success of the pilot project with Satemwa School, 3 further adult literacy schools have now opened in Mwalanthunsi, Chawani and Sabankhanga divisions.  This ensures that all workers and their dependents from Satemwa have access to free evening classes.

550 workers are registered to date with over 70% attendance each day.  Schools run from Monday to Friday, 4.30 – 7pm.

Satemwa Headmaster, overseeing the project, commented “the schools are very popular and the teachers are also happy.  We have a high attendance even though it is harvesting time”.  The JB currently employ 25 teachers to manage all the different levels of classes in each school.  Some students are planning to write their Standard 8 exams next year.  Others, including some grandmothers, are starting in Standard 1.

JB Vice-Chairman, Connex Banda, commented “there are parents studying Standard 1 ..and their grandchildren are in Standard 6, or 7.  The children are helping them…the parents are happier now for the children to go to school, not staying in the village or helping in their gardens”

Satemwa Tea Estates management are helping the JB improve the schools by painting all the new classrooms.

Banda, discussing the latest school in Chawani, comments “we are carrying down new benches and desks each night until we can organise a watchman” .   Satemwa’s main school already benefits from new desks donated by the JB.

A standard 2 class at Chawani school opening night

Water projects Update

The Joint Body have completed the first 12 boreholes and planned for a further 6 to be drilled, completing all compounds and villages around Satemwa.

Following a meeting with Chizinja village, a new project to pipe water from the mountain is in planning to help with safe drinking water and irrigation in the area.

 

Satemwa sports kick off again with the Fairtrade Premiership

By popular demand the Joint Body purchased 6 sets of sports kits.  3 Netball kits and 3 football kits – giving each division area there own teams.

After a few weeks of training, the first matches were played yesterday, drawing hundreds of people to support and enjoy themselves at Satemwa Football and Netball grounds.

Final scores were:

NETBALL

Mwalanthunsi	1
Satemwa	12

 

FOOTBALL

Mwalanthunsi	2
Satemwa	0

 

Aside from the sports, people used the event to enjoy some music, dancing and socialising!

Satemwa Division Netball team

Mwalanthunsi Division Netball team

JB Chairman, Rabson Kalowa, greeting players

 

whoaaa…

Satemwa Division Football team

Mwalanthunsi Division Football team

 

a bit of dancing at half time

it was meant to say ‘fairtrade premium’…but now we have a name for the league..

“This is what fairtrade is all about”…One Third of Workers Begin Adult Education Classes in Satemwa Division

A pilot scheme to develop adult education classes has started at Satemwa school. 

Open to all workers and/or their spouses, the school allows workers to continue their education that they had not managed to finish as children.

The school operates in evenings from 16:30 until 18.00, Mondays to Thursdays.

To date 189 workers from the Factory and Satemwa division have registered and are attending classes (from Standard 1 to Standard 8).  These represent approximately one third of workers in this area….much higher than we had expected.

The next challenge is to open schools in the other divisions so all workers have the same opportunity.  Following the success of the pilot scheme we are estimating in excess of 500 workers attending school again this year. 

First of all we must give the schools access to electricity so they can have lights for the evening classes.  This will tie-in with the JB environment project, using  macro & micro solar power because there are no electricity cables in these areas.

JB Vice-Secretary, Mr Kalowa, commented; “this is what fairtrade is all about.  The workers in my division are very happy.  More and more are coming every day”.

JB members themselves are enjoying going back to school to improve their previous grades or finish their primary education.

Bridges completed

The JB have completed 6 foot bridges in the area to help workers and local communities cross the many streams and rivers at key points between surrounding villages. Beforehand, people had been crossing some of these rivers using old tree trunks laid across the gap (...obviously very dangerous, especially in the rainy season!) - or by having to walk long D-tours to get to a safer crossing.

One of the new bridges in Sabankhanga area

before Maonga bridge is built...

The Satemwa Fair Trade Joint Body Contributes Towards The Fight Against Malaria

As hospitals struggle to cure malaria patients, the Satemwa Joint Body saw it fit to contribute by actually going down to the cause of malaria -"Mosquitoes".
Using Fair trade premium funds, the JB have bought 'mosquito nets' at the cost price of MK850.00 each and sold to all workerers, permanent and temporary at only MK100.00.
This will help protect Satemwa Estate workers from mosquito bites hence making them less likely to contract malaria. - 'What a benefit for being a Satemwa employee'

For more log on to: www.satemwa.com

Hunger Programme - Maize Distribution

This year Malawi has a shortage of Maize available for sale and through ADMARC. Many families have run out completely of Maize from last years harvest and the prices have more than doubled recently to over MK4,700 ($33 USD) per bag.

Over December and January the JB has helped workers' families by distributing over 100,000 KG of Maize at a heavily discounted rate.

Ten Boreholes finished

There have been many celebrations now 10 boreholes have been finished on Satemwa and the surrounding villages. The JB are planning to drill 4 more in 2009 so that all the surrounding communities and the workers on Satemwa have access to clean water for drinking, washing & cooking.

Dancing in Chizunja village...

Chief Maonga Opening a borehole in Chizunja village

Satemwa Joint Body goes online...

Happy New Year from Satemwa Joint Body!

The JB has managed to install an internet connection at the office. So we can now update the blog with more pictures & email our local friends and partners who are assisting with our projects.

antennae for JB internet connection

THE SATEMWA JB ENGAGES A PREMIUM FUNDS MANAGER

Having learnt a lesson out of other JB ' governance problems regarding the managing of Fair trade premium funds, the Satemwa Joint Body have engaged the services of Mr. Mike Shaw a VSO volunteer as a Funds/Project Coordinator.
Mr. Shaw is the second VSO volunteer to work on Satemwa after Trudy Nichols whose placement saw the improvement of education systems on Satemwa Primary School, the establishment of a training department and later the human resource development department.
It is our hope that this palcement will bring about improvements in issues of governance, capacity building within the JB members in respect of premium use and long term project identification.
This has coincided with the onset of the main cropping season hence giving the JB an upper hand regarding whatever premium will be realised out of this seasons tea sales
For more visit: www.satemwa.com

SATEMWA EXPECTS THE CO-OP VISITORS IN NOVEMBER

As if by coincidence and as if driven by an invisible hand, Satemwa will be hosting yet another contingent of high profile visitors from the co-op from the UK. They will be accompanied by Findlays Beverages who are one of the biggest Malawi Fair Trade Tea buyers.
Coincidentally, they will be coming at a time when our Fairtrade certificate has just been renewed after it was suspended. Their visit raises some hopes of sales opportunities.
While celebrating for the certificate workers, pupils and secondary school students and members of the community who have benefited from the Fair trade premium are preparing songs and dances with which to entartain the visitors. It is all happy momemnts.
Another good thing about this visit is that they will be able to meet Mr Pulmesuer the Borehole driller who skillfully uses his copper magic wands to devine where he can find enough water. He is currently sinking boreholes in the surrounding villages.

Employees dancing to one of the famous dances inthe area as they

prepare for the Co-op visitors

For more info, visit: http://www.satemwa.com/

SATEMWA FAIR TRADE CERTIFICATE SUSPENSION IS LIFTED -CERTIFIED TILL 2011

The Satemwa Fair trade certificate that was suspended due to nonconformities that came out as a result of the March 2008 audit has finally been lifted and a Certificate issued. One interesting thing is that the certificate will be valid until 2011.
We have learnt some lessons out of the exercise we undertook to regain the uncertain situation we were in.
1. To be certified one needs to do more than a normal producer would.
2. To be fair trade certified requires total commitment and sacrifice.
3. There is need to take a mainstream approach so that the FT standard becomes part of business processes.
At the end of the day we are all smiles ofcourse after a lot of hard work in ensuring that all nonconformities are corrected.
Thanks to Matthias and Simon for their untiring support during the time of our suspension.
Also we are very appreciative to Marla for her swift feedback.
To our buyers and prospective buyers, the message is that we are now back as Fair trade certified producers having satisfied FLO-CERT requirements once again.

For more info. http// www.satemwa.com